Is Bamboo Better?
It’s no secret we worship the fashion site NotCouture, but when we saw them endorsing a clothing line created with bamboo, we got a little ferclemped.
Here’s the thing:
Bamboo in a forest is great. It grows quickly, and without a lot of resources, and it’s good for both soil and pandas. And really, who doesn’t want things that are good for pandas?
The problem comes when bamboo gets broken down into a thread. The chemicals used to turn it from a very stiff plant into a very soft fabric are very harmful, and the amount of fuel it takes to ship bamboo from Asia to the United States is also a concern. Before you buy bamboo products, especially fabric, there’s a lot to consider.
For a full rundown of the plant’s properties, check out SuperEco’s article, “How Green is Bamboo?” and Eviana Hartman’s essay on bambooin the Washington Post.
As the founder of the eco-label Bodkin, she knows her stuff. And hopefully after reading a little bit more about bamboo processing, you will too.
PS: Sorry to be a downer. But as GI Joe once said, “Knowing is half the battle.”
July 28th, 2009 at 1:12 pm
Im really glad that you are taking the time to tell people about this, but i was wondering, what about supposedly green shampoos? and what about bamboo flooring? Im a comsotologist and i was just curious if green salons really are green.
July 28th, 2009 at 1:42 pm
What sort of ingredients do “green” shampoos have in them? Are you talking about products like Dr. Bronner’s and LUSH?
July 28th, 2009 at 1:46 pm
I’m glad NYLON is addressing the bamboo issue, but… spell check? Copy editor? “Ferclemped” isn’t a word, it’s verklempt, from the German verklemmt. I’m surprised, you’re usually much better at this sort of thing.
July 28th, 2009 at 1:52 pm
I would think that bamboo floors aren’t that bad because they’re still hard – they don’t need to be softened.
And I use only “green” shampoos – no parabens, no sulfates, and mainly organic extracts. It’s parabens and sulfates that end up screwing up the earth in terms of beauty products and what not.
July 28th, 2009 at 3:17 pm
Bamboo can also be grown in the united states quite readily…and thrive nicely. It’s a matter of how the companies who use the material want to approach it.
July 28th, 2009 at 4:02 pm
What the hell does “ferclemped” mean? O_O
But, yeah. Bamboo takes a lot of work to turn into fabric. It’s really soft and antibacterial, though! Seriously, my feet never stink when I wear bamboo socks. xD
August 3rd, 2009 at 9:41 am
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